The prodigal father.....part 2

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

If you read yesterday's post and just read the verse above, you should be thinking right about now, "WOW, that is amazingly unbelievable!" Let's think about this. Imagine your son takes half of your current estate and leaves home....spends it all frivously....and then decides to come back home. What's your response? The father in the parable saw his son when "he was still a long way off." It would have been completely understandable if the father chose to sit in his home and simply wait for his son to FULLY return....but to run toward him, with compassion in his heart, to throw his arms around his son and to kiss him? That's beyond comprehension. Now, let's transfer our thinking to the spiritual truth that this parable is relaying. What do you see? What does this say about our Father in heaven? Well, take the worse sin that you have ever committed and decide in your heart that you are going to bring the confession of that sin right into the presence of God. You may be expecting the Heavenly Father to cast an unapproving eye....maybe even remind us how truly sinful we are. But instead, he chooses to run toward us with a heart full of compassion and totally embrace us with His unconditional love. This really makes no sense, but this is a tremendous picture of God. Lord, guide me toward fully embracing your tremendous unconditional love....then, help me to express it toward others.

The parable of the prodigal father.....

Father, give me my share of the estate. Luke 15:12

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:21

We all know the parable of the "prodigal son." It's a great story of a son who squandered his father's wealth....became broke.....and decided to return home to his father. The two verses above reveal a sharp contrast in spirit. Verse 12 is the demand placed upon the father. Let me have all that is rightly mine, now! In contrast, verse 21 reveals the confession of a contrite spirit who acknowledges that he really messed up. We all know folks that are experiencing a "prodigal" stage in life. Or, we know someone, maybe even ourselves, that were "prodigal".....but, came to our senses, and returned back to what we know is good and right. We all can relate in some way.

HOWEVER (and this is unusual for me to write in all caps....this means I am really emphasizing what I am about to say), we miss the whole point of the story. Most folks (obviously none that read this blog....but, you know, other people) probably think that "prodigal" means something like this: a person who was given a lot and who wasted it. Nope, that's not the definition of the word "prodigal." The word means "wastefully extravagant" or "giving lavishly or profusely." This is true.....look it up.

So, who is the character in this story that was wastefully extravagant and gave lavishly and profusely? Hint: It was the father. And since a parable is a kingdom story told in an earthly way.....this parable is relaying a powerful truth about our Heavenly Father. Go back and read the story from beginning to end with this in mind.....Luke 15:11-32. Is this the type of Heavenly Father that you know?

The Lord hates?

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

My youngest daughter asked me the other day, "Daddy, the bible says that we are to love our enemies, does this mean we are to love Satan?" ....She just turned six years old. I think she might be the real theologian in the family. Anyhow, after a robust theological discussion with my six year old, I got thinking about other challenging questions from the bible.....like, if God is love, can the LORD hate? Well, the answer to that question is easy. According to the verse above, absolutely. I'm guessing that when the Bible refers to the LORD as hating something, it must be pretty bad. If the LORD hates haughty eyes, then I need to make sure that my demeanor is imbued with humility. If the LORD hates a lying tongue, only truth had better come out of my mouth. If the LORD hates hands that shed innocent blood, I must protect the innocent. If the LORD hates a heart that devises wicked schemes, I better check that my plans are wholesome and true. If the LORD hates feet that quickly rush into evil, I had better slow down and make sure the path I'm on is a godly one. If the LORD hates a false witness who pours out lies, I must only speak truth. If the LORD hates a person who stirs up dissension among brothers, I am called to stir up unity among the redeemed. But, don't just take my word.....take a closer look at Proverbs 6:16-19....Again, if the LORD hates these things, I think it warrants our closest attention. Agree?

Life or death.....

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

The book of Proverbs is awesome. With a perusal through Proverbs it doesn't take long to realize just how powerful the tongue really is. It pronouces one as wise if, in a timely manner, it is held (10:19). It can also nourish many (10:21). It can destroy a neighbor or allow the righteous to escape (11:9). It can guard the soul or cause one to come to ruin (13:3). It has the ability to pierce like a sword or bring healing (12:18). It can be a fountain of life or a place where violence overwhelms (10:11). It can carry and deliver wisdom or invite ruin (10:13,14). It can carry honest testimony or can be full of lies (12:17). It can bring the rod or bring protection (14:3). It can be a tree of life or can crush the spirit (15:4). It can commend knowledge or gush with folly (15:2). It can turn away wrath or stir up anger (15:1). It can even separate close friends (16:28). It can bring strife, beatings, and can be a snare to the soul (18:6,7). It truly has the power of life and death (18:21). So, what will it be this week? Lord, show me this week who needs nourishing, healing, wisdom, honest testimony, protection, knowledge, and life.....then, use me.

A wife of noble character.....

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12

Saturday, May 13, 1989 was the beginning of a new journey- that was the day God blessed me with the most beautiful life partner- a real woman of grace. Her name is Dawn. We have now been married for 21 years. With each passing day, I have fallen more and more in love with her. I have no idea why God chose me to be her partner and best friend....but I know that I am blessed beyond measure and for that am I forever grateful. From time to time I still officiate weddings and one of my favorite things to tell new couples is that to have a successful marital relationship, they have to understand true friendship....and live it out. I praise the Lord that I can say that Dawn is my very best friend. Whatever stage of life you are in.....whether or not you have a partner at this time, be encourged that real love is alive....that it is possible....

Weary and burdened?

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

I don't know about you, but I get weary. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing something wrong. Heavy burdens build up that cause my whole being to experience weariness. But, then I realize that I am not any less of a Christian just because I get burdened and become weary. What the passage reminds me is that there is a better way. Jesus is inviting me to take on his yoke....the one that is easy and light. And what is the result?....rest. Not just a future rest, but one that is real here and now. I need this. Lord, before the weariness really sets in, help me to remember that you are always inviting me to a better way....a way that leads to rest. Forgive me when I may want to carry the burdens just a little longer than I should-- teach me to long for the rest that only you can provide.

Almost....but not quite there.....

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11

We've all been teenagers. And so, we've been grounded for a week, approximately two days before the "world's largest party" or that concert that "all of our friends are going to"....etc. You know what I mean. We were almost there....but it just didn't happen. We messed up.... we blew it.... we did something so horrible that our parents- two days before the event- pulled the trump discipline, "You are grounded for a week." "No!"....our world came crashing down. We could smell it, taste it, see it....but then, it was out of sight. We were the only person in the vast universe sitting at home while the rest of the world got to go.

Okay, that was rather dramatic for being a generic, hypothetical scenario. Actually, there is a real story behind it, but I wanted to protect the guilty (me). Anyhow, I am sure that you recall the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. The bible makes it clear that they did not get to enter their rest (The Promised Land) due to the hardening of their hearts.... disobedience.... rebellion. What should have been an eleven day journey, ended in 40 years of walking around in the wilderness and never reaching the promised destination. They were divinely "grounded."

The author of Hebrews is imploring his readers to "make every effort to enter that rest" and to not "harden their hearts." Bottom-line, the "rest" that the scriptures talk about only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. You either have it or you don't. Are you tired of walking in the wilderness? There is a way out!